ABSTRACT
Background: Bleeding in pregnancy, childbirth or postpartum period is an emergency. Selective internal iliac (hypogastric) arteries ligation is a surgical therapy in selected cases of obstetric massive hemorrhage. It had proven to be safe. Objetive: To evaluate the risk for re-intervention for post-operatory bleeding in patients with obstetric hysterectomy and selective hypogastric arteries ligation. Material and method: Cross-sectional study including women diagnosed with obstetric hysterectomy with and without selective arterial ligation as a factor to assess the risk of re-intervention, from December 2013 to December 2014, at High Specialty Medical Unit 23 of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, in Monterrey, which is a tertiary care medical center. Those patients with 28 weeks of gestation or more were selected. The postoperative blood loss was quantified by open drainage system (Penrose). Results: We performed 88 hysterectomies in the study period. We included 45 women according to selection criteria. The average was 31.9 ± 5.48 years old. Performing a selective hypogastric arteries ligation may be a protective factor (p<0.05) for re-intervention as a consequence of postoperative bleeding. Conclusion: Selective arterial ligation is a factor that could help to prevent a re-intervention. A continuous training of physicians and residents of Gynecology and Obstetrics is essential to ensure the reduction in morbidity and maternal mortality.